Moving my early stage Alzheimer's dad... what to make sure to bring?

[Anonymous]

My dad has finally agreed to move to an assisted living situation. He's going from a 4 bed 3 bath house to essentially a 1 bed/1bath/1sittjng room apartment.

I have the obvious stuff figured out (bed, linens, table(s), kitchen stuff, TV, possibly art for walls) but I'm wondering what I'm forgetting?

Have you seriously downsized someone who can't really say what they need? (I.e., we are NOT bringing the outdoor fountain, even if it is soothing, but I have no problem making sure we have the Blue Irish Blanket). What am I not thinking about from every day life that may become important?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

The family pictures.

[Anonymous]

We tried to make moms new bedroom as much like her old one as possible. Same picture of Dad on the nightstand. Same Art. Same Bedding.

Kitchen stuff? How much of a kitchen will he have?

[Anonymous]

Op here. For kitchen stuff I meant plates, utensils, cups, things like that. He'll have a microwave, small fridge, coffee maker, and that's it. No appliances or anything big.

[Anonymous]

We downsized my parents from a big house to assisted living. I was amazed at how much we could keep the same “feel” of the house…we moved my parents’ dining room chairs, their bed, favorite couch, some wall paintings…decorative things that made it feel like home.

It was so hard, but 1.5 years late I’m so glad we did. They are happy in their new community, and backup care exists if there is an issue.

In reality the kitchen stuff wasn’t really important. They don’t do much food prep anymore.

Good luck with the move.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you're set. I moved my mom. She didn't need all that much. She brought a table and chairs, a dresser with drawers, aTV and a bed from home. We bought her one of those padded easy chairs that tilt up so it was easier for her to stand up and she could also recline. Bring walker or cane or toilet seat or anything they use for assistance and maybe a caddy batheoom storage of stuff. Comfortable clothes to wear. A sweater because they get cold. Blankets, pictures from home, a clock they can read or hear. You can buy things if you need them later.

[Anonymous]

Photos of people, definitely, even if not in their original frame. Maybe you could have one of those digital frames which allow a slideshow of photos. If the things he uses most are in a layout that feels familiar, it would be best, but I can see how difficult that it. But to that end, please don't clutter: he will notice the stuff he needs to use most, in a space that is not too distracting.

And maybe substitute something else for the fountain. Nature sounds and music are very helpful, apparently.

[Anonymous]

I moved my mom to assisted living in the early stages of alzheimers. My suggestion is to make the room familiar, but do not bring too much stuff. Clutter can be overwhelming and when adapting to a new place, having things clearly organized is going to be helpful. (We ended up getting a label maker and labeled all her drawers). She moved from a house she had been in 50 years, and she was an only child who inherited all her parents stuff. I had to get rid of generations of antiques, papers, etc. I did it quickly (maybe too quickly) but I kept a few pieces of art, which I brought to her new place, along with family pictures.

In our case, my mom moved about a year before diagnosis (by that point she was stage 3/4--I had thought early but really she was already mid stage).

We paid a lot to have the largest apartment (850 square feet), with a nice kitchen, and a nice table for eating, bookshelves, and a computer desk, etc.

She never cooked (not even toast!); went to meals all the time (which was probably for the best, given her decline); she stopped using a computer and pretty soon stopped reading most things, just the paper and some novels.

Then she had to move to memory care, and we had to get rid of the table, chairs, couch, rug, TV, bookshelves, kitchen stuff, computer, phone, etc. Much of which we had bought new since it was cheaper to buy new furniture than ship her old stuff across the country. If I could do it all over again, I would have furnished sparely, and been prepared for the fact that she wasn't going to need the fancy wardrobe, pots and pans, a coffee maker, etc.